The importance of relaxing

Let’s look at an example

Dina: no time, no energy

Dina takes care of her husband Dan who has dementia. She feels increasingly tense.

A friend advises her to try to relax and not ask too much of herself. Dina tells her friend that she does not have the time or energy to relax. Her friend explains that there are ways to relax that do not take much time, and that relaxing might give Dina renewed energy that could help her get tasks done more easily.

Dina succeeds in relaxing

Dina decides to follow her friend’s advice and tries the breathing exercise her friend showed her.

When Dina sees her friend again she says: “Thank you for the good advice. Although I still have a lot to do, I feel less tense.” Dina decides to do the breathing exercise every time she is feeling tense.